

CHAPJER IX. 

 The Melbourne Hall Run. 



Historic runs are of rare occurrence, and it does not fall 

 to the lot of a man to see more than one or two, unless, 

 like the ' monks who live under the hill,' it is his business 

 to hunt every day ; and even in the latter case, the historic 

 runs he will see are few and far between. The comparative 

 merits of different runs often afford matter for keen areument 

 when hunting men foregather ; but those whose good luck 

 it was to be out with the York and Ainsty on Saturday, 

 December 23rd, 1893, are unanimous in expressing the 

 opinion that they never saw a run to equal that which took 

 place over the fine wild Howdenshire country. 



The morning was a fine one, there was scarcely a 

 breath of air stirring, the wind was in the south-west, and 

 as Mr. Lycett Green drove up to the meet the question as 

 to whether it was a typical hunting morning was discussed, 

 and the Master prophesied a run. There was, however, one 

 weather sign which was not very favourable, and that was 

 that on the horizon there hung the faintest suspicion of a 

 blue fog, that bete noir to the huntsman. There was not a 



